The Michael Jackson biopic "Michael" has officially become the highest-grossing biographical film of all time, surpassing Christopher Nolan's "Oppenheimer" with $977 million in worldwide ticket sales. The film's achievement marks a historic moment for the biographical genre and for Lionsgate Studios, which now counts the Jackson film as its most successful theatrical release ever .
The musical biopic, directed by Antoine Fuqua, has outperformed previous record-holders including "Oppenheimer" ($975 million) and Queen biopic "Bohemian Rhapsody" ($911 million) . The film's success represents a significant milestone for the Jackson family and the legacy of the King of Pop, who died in 2009 .
Jaafar Jackson, the late singer's 29-year-old nephew, stars in his feature film debut as his legendary uncle, with Colman Domingo and Nia Long portraying Michael's parents, Joe and Katherine Jackson . The film chronicles Jackson's rise from his early years with the Jackson 5 through the record-breaking Bad World Tour in the late 1980s .
On Sunday, June 28, Jaafar Jackson appeared at the BET Awards alongside co-star Nia Long to address the film's achievement. Before presenting the Best Male R&B/Pop Artist award, Jackson expressed gratitude to fans for their overwhelming support, noting that audiences had kept theaters packed worldwide .
Reflecting on the box office milestone, Jackson took to Instagram to share behind-the-scenes photos and celebrate the accomplishment. "Highest grossing Biopic of ALL TIME," he wrote. "This record, this accomplishment—it was a dream goal of mine for this film and you all made it real" . He added a heartfelt tribute to his late uncle: "I promise you Michael is up there absolutely grinning about this. This one's for him" .
The film, released on April 24, 2026, opened with $217 million globally in its first week, shattering the opening record for musical biopics previously set by "Straight Outta Compton" in 2015 . "Michael" has earned $607.2 million from international markets and $370.2 million domestically, with industry analysts now projecting the film will cross the $1 billion threshold .
The film's commercial performance has been particularly notable given mixed critical reception. Some reviewers have criticized the production for omitting the sexual abuse allegations that shadowed Jackson's later career, calling the film a "whitewash" or "sanitised" version of the singer's life . However, audience response has remained consistently strong, with fans praising the film's recreation of Jackson's iconic concert performances .
The production, which underwent significant rewrites and reshoots before release, is financially backed by the Jackson estate and uses the late singer's original vocals for its musical numbers . According to industry reports, Lionsgate is expected to greenlight at least one more film about Jackson's life following this record-breaking success .
"Michael" now stands as one of the defining commercial success stories of 2026, cementing Michael Jackson's enduring cultural influence nearly two decades after his death . For Jaafar Jackson, the film's achievement represents a personal milestone, launching the newcomer into superstardom while honoring his uncle's extraordinary legacy .
